FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots unveiled their fifth Super Bowl banner, held a pre-game celebration that boasted five oversized Lombardi Trophies and included a performance from rapper Flo Rida, and their fans taunted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell with clown noses.

And then the Kansas City Chiefs thumped New England, 42-27.

The performance goes down as the most points and yards (537) allowed in a single game during the Bill Belichick era.

The New England Patriots have had multiple free agency workouts over the course of the last week. A total of six players visited the Gillette Stadium shortly after the team's opening day loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. According to ESPN Boston's Mike Reiss, two more were brought in on Monday.

Let's take a look at them.

LS Taybor PepperNo player in Michigan Spartans history played more games than long snapper Taybor Pepper, who appeared in 54 contests between 2012 and 2015. But despite proving himself a reliable player and registering 10 career tackles, Pepper went undrafted in 2016. He remained unsigned until almost one year later, when the Green Bay Packers signed him. However, he was was released in May and after a short stint with the Baltimore Ravens, Pepper wound out on the open market again following roster cutdowns.

P Austin RehkowIdaho product Austin Rehkow, who served as placekicker and punter in college, entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie this year and was signed as a free agent by the Buffalo Bills. Coming off a season in which he went 26 of 29 on field goals, 42 of 44 on extra points and had a gross punting average of 41.6 yards, Rehkow was unable to make the Bills' roster and was released during final cutdowns. He remained unsigned since.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- When New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was held to just two catches for 33 yards in a season-opening loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, it didn’t take long for the question to be asked.

After initial optimism, awaiting more clarity on Dont'a Hightower's injury

NEW ORLEANS -- Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:

1. When Patriots linebacker Dont'a Hightower injured his right knee in the season opener but remained on the sideline the rest of the game -- at one point riding a stationary bike -- it was generally viewed as a sign that the injury wasn’t severe and might not even keep him out one week. Since that time, I’m told that Hightower sought a second opinion over the last week from Dr. James Andrews. When I saw Hightower a few days ago, he didn’t confirm plans to visit Andrews, but he also didn’t deny it, only saying with a smile, “I’m OK.” That Hightower was believed to be seeking more clarity on the injury days after the opener was notable to me based on the initial optimism. This is the same knee that led to him beginning training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

1b. Contract note: As part of the four-year pact he signed with the Patriots in the offseason, Hightower can earn up to $875,000 in roster bonuses, which are paid in $54,687 per-game installments if he's on the 46-man game-day roster. That’s a higher total than most players. Hightower has already been ruled out for the Patriots’ Week 2 game against the Saints.